A Confluence of Cultures

Throughout the ages Punjab was a crucible of culture. An unending
amalgamation of communities and confluence cultures took place
resulting in a pragmatic, experimental and utilitarian outlook
on life and a robust common-sense view which debilitated the root
of all sorts of dogmas, conventions and conservatism.

Arab Muslims under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Qasim raided
Sind and Multan in 713 AD; that was Punjab’s involvement with
the next phase of military, political and cultural conflicts.
Other armies from West and Central Asia followed over the next
1000 years. The Ghoris, Mongols and Ghaznavids swept across the
Khyber Pass and down into Punjab to plunder, but they were not
interested in establishing their rule and staying in the country
permanently. During this convulsive period the Natha mendicants
kept alive the cardinal spirit of India. The clash of cultures was
also responsible for the birth of the Sufi tradition. Khwaja
Moinuddin Chist, one of the greatest of the Sufis, arrived at
Lahore in 1190. Farid-ud-Din Ganj-i-Shakar (1 173-1265) is the
first Sufi poet, who wrote in Punjabi – then a sort of North
Indian lingua franca. It was an amalgamation of Hindi and Multani.
Other Sufis like Shah Hussain, All Haider and Ghulam Farid
identified themselves with what is commonly termed as Punjabiat,
and sang in the language of the land the songs of love, humanity
and God.

The text and images in this section are from the Archives of the
Punjab Government.
Punjab Govt. , Plot No. 3, sector 38, Chandigarh. Telephone Nos :
0091-172-694889, 0091-172-694997